Forming press



Nov. 15,1938.

A. H. LONG FORMING PRES S Filed Nov. 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1938. I

Filed Nov. 9, 1936 A. H. LONG FORMING PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15, 1938. A. H. LONG FORMING PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 15, 1938. A. H. LONG I 2,136,356

' FORMING PRESS Filed Nov. 9, 1936 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES FORMING PRESS Arthur H. Long, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dreis & Krump Mfg. Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 9, 1936,. Serial No. 110,022

4 Claims. (01. 153-21) My invention relates to forming presses, and more particularly to that type in which a ram is reciprocable relative to a bed, and my main object is to provide a press of this kind which is comprised of the fewest number of parts consistent. with its requirements.

A further object of the invention is to design the novel press with units and parts of utmost simplicity for purposes of economy in manufacture and replacement, facility in assembly and repair, and ease of operation.

A still further object of the invention is to group the principal operating parts compactly to save space and enable them to occupy a common lubricating bath.

Another object of the invention is to dispose the vital running gear in balanced relation, in order that the pressure imparted to the ram may be uniform.

An additional object of the invention is to concentrate the efforts of the ram-operating units inwardly of the press and so cause the incidental stresses to merge with such efforts rather than detract therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate strain, undue wear and shearing tendencies wherever possible, that the press may operate with efficiency and over long periods without attention or repair.

An important object of the invention is to pro vide supporting means for the press ram which are adjustable to changes in the alinement of the ram.

Another object of the invention is to equip the ram-supporting means with release devices which are quickly actuated to relieve thelocking of the ram-operating gear on dead center.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow. a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference. to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel press;

Figs. 2. and 3 are end views. from the left and right, respectively;

Fig. i is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of the press, partly in section;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of a detail taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1';

Fig- 7ais a duplicate of Fig. 7, showing certain parts ina changed position;

Fig.7?) is a perspective view of a part appearing in Fig.7; and

Fig. 8 is a detail. section. taken on the. line li -8 of Fig. 3.

In forming pressesof the type under consideration, the drive: to. the ram frequently entails. the

i use of: a plurality of. shafts. and gears, which spread the drive over a large area, involve considerable production and maintenance costs, lower the efficiency of the press, and create grinding and other noises. Due to these deficiencies presses of this kind are larger in size and heavier than the work actually requires, and need more power to run them. Besides, the multiplicity and spread of the parts in the running gear necessitates more extensive lubrication, greater care to keep isolated units lubricated and free from clogging, and a greater consumption of the lubricant.

In View of these considerations I have designed the novel press with means to eliminate the defects related and render the press simple, high in efficiency and silent in, operation.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawings indicates the side walls of the press at l5 and I6, and its bed at H. The ram I8 is vertically reciprocable along the front edges of the walls l5 and I6; and the facing edges of the ram and bed are formed with suitable receptacles for a pair of forming dies l9, whose shape may vary according to the form to be imparted to the work.

The end walls. l5 and Hi carry between them a housing comprised of front and back walls 20 and 29a, side walls 28b and a bottom 200. The housing is built as a rigid unit by welding or otherwise securing its component parts; and it is supported by the seating of outward horizontal ribs 20d of the side walls 20b in matching grooves |5a on the inner sides of the walls and IS. The housing is further secured to these by receiving bolts [5b from the outside, and receives a lid 206, secured by cap screws The ram I8 is operated from a single drive shaft 2| located in the rear, lower part of the housing 26 and running in bearings Zla carried by the latter. One end of the shaft extends through the Wall iii to receive a pulley drive 22, containing a suitable clutch 23, While the other end of the shaft extends similarly to receive a brake 24. When the ram is upas shown-the clutch is disengaged and the brake applied; and to lower the ram a treadle 25 at the base of the press is actuated, with a lever 25a to the clutch for engaging the latter, and a lever 25b to the brake for releasing the same simultaneously. The drive, clutch and brake mechanisms need no detailed description, as any type may be employed which will operate and control the shaft 2| as described.

Inside the housing the shaft 2! carries a Worm 2 lb near each end. As noted particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, each worm 2lb meshes with a gear 26 near the rear wall of the housing, the gear having a hub 26a extending to the front wall thereof.

The gears 26 are journaled on center pins 261) fixed in bearings 260 formed by inwardly thickening the front and rear housing walls. These receive closure plates 21 on the. outside for the retention of lubricant in the bearings 260, the plates being secured by screws 21a.

The front portions of the gear hubs 26a are reduced to form eccentrics 28, on which are disposed follower blocks 29. These are rectangular and slidable in horizontal openings 30a. formed near the ends of a massive link 30, which extends almost the length of the housing 20. The blocks 23 are enlarged with flanges 29a on the rear side of the link, to be kept by the latter from backing toward the rear housing wall.

The link 30 seats in vertical cavities 3|a formed in a pair of posts 3| which are vertically slidable in bearing sleeves 32 disposed in the bottom of the housing 20. The latter is perforated for the partial passage of the sleeves, the joint then being made tight by welding. The sleeves 32 carry suitable internal bushings 32a which are replaceable in case of wear; also, packings 33 are fitted in the bottoms of the sleeves to seal them against the escape of lubricant which is provided for the posts 3|.

The posts 3| are designed to support the ram 8, and their connections with the latterare identical. Thus, each post is extended downwardly with a screw 34 upon which is threaded a cylindrical nut 35 having an annular enlargement in its upper portion in the form of a worm gear 36. The nut 35 is rotatably disposed in a housing 31 which receives a portion of a shaft 58 carrying a worm 59, which is in mesh with the gear 36. The housing 31 receives a lid 310. secured by cap screws 51b and has sufiicient internal room for a lubricant to ease the operation'of the worm and gear. It will be evident that the rotation of the shaft portion 58 will cause the nut 35 to rise or fall along the screw 34 and carry the housing 31 and shaft portion 58 accordingly. The shaft portion 58 extends beyond one housing 31 to receive an operating crank (not shown), and the shaft portions are preferably joined by a simple clutch 58a in the center, which is adjustable to free either shaft portion for individual operation. Thus, while the shaft portions are normally intended to operate together for the uniform raising or lowering of the ram, it is possible to alter the height of one housing or the other whenever the level of the ram is to be adjusted.

The ram I8 is divided below each housing 31, as indicated at |8a, to receive a constricted. portion 31b thereof, the division then becoming enlarged in the form of an opening |8b to seat a corresponding enlargement 310 of the housing. While the constricted portion 31b is preferably of circular cross-section, the enlarged portion 310 has a fiat front and rear formation, as indicated in Fig. 4 at the right, and. terminates with a bottom ridge 31d. The ram receives an angle plate 38 from each side in the region below the enlargement 310. The side sections of the plates are perforated at 38a for the passage of bolts 39 into the ram, while the upper sections of the plates are inwardly inclined at the same angle as the surfaces of the ridge 31d. When the connection is made under normal conditions, a small space exists between the upper sections of the angle plates; also, a small space exists between the side sections thereof and the ram, as shown in Fig. 7a.

The side walls l5 and I6 of the press are outwardly enlarged with gibs I to provide a substantial frontal surface along which the ram |8 is movable. In order that the ram may not be permanently worn along the course of contact with the gib, the affected portions of the ram are recessed as indicated at |8c to each receive a bronze gib liner 40, secured by screws 40a. Also, the ram is made with a rearward vertical rib |8d for guidance along the gib I50, a retainer plate 4| being secured on the rear face of the rib by bolts 4 la and extending to overlie the rear face of the gib projection.

It will be evident that the wear of the gib liners 40 during the prolonged use of the press will cause the ram to depart slightly from its vertical alinement with the posts 3|. It is for this reason that the angle plates 38 are made with the inclined relation to the housing enlargement 31c indicated in Fig. '7. Should a departure of the character mentioned occur, the screws 39 may be manipulated to adjust the angle plates laterally in a direction to take up the error in alinement. However, this adjustment will not be prejudicial to the connection with the housing enlargement 310, as the latter will find its seat upon the plates despite the lateral departure thereof. It is understood that the amount of error considered in the above adjustment is usually very slight, and that a more considerable amount of error would be disposed of by re-lining the ram.

It is understood that the operation of the ram is induced by the simultaneous effect of the eccentrics 28 upon the posts 3|. It is noted in Fig. 4 that the threads of the worms 2|b are in opposite directions, whereby to rotate the gears 26 as indicated by the arrows in the central portions thereof. As the eccentrics rise and fall, the link 33 follows suit, the blocks 29 moving laterally in the link openings 39a to allow for the lateral motion of the eccentrics. Downward pressure of the link upon the posts 3| is effected by the seating of the link in the cavities 3 a, while cross pins 3 lb are passed through the posts and the link to connect these parts for joint movement on the upstroke. The motion is then transmitted to the ram directly through the adjusting units below.

It will be seen that the entire vital mechanism for the operation of the ram is contained in the housing 20. The compact nature of the mechanism assembly makes it possible to build this housing relatively small and to fill the same with a lubricant to serve all the parts involved. The fact that a single prime shaft is employed to actuate the raising and lowering mechanism makes the running gear exceedingly simple, eliminating a multiplicity of bearings and other material, with attendant provision for lubrication and use of extended space. The mechanism harmonizes with the requirement that the ram be actuated at two laterally spaced points by the provision of the dual arrangement of the worms 2|b, gears 26, eccentrics 28, etc. Thus, the eifect upon both connections with the ram is uniform. Further, the provision of the link 30 assures the positive connection of the dual working units and the operation thereof in perfect unison. Also, the rotation of the gears 26 in the directions denoted by the arrows directs the motion of the gears inwardly at the points where they are driven, so that they may co-act to maintain the joint travel of the units in keeping with their connection by the link 30. The inward influence of the gears is transmitted to the shaft 2|, so that no special bearings or reinforced end walls are required to resist end-thrust. By the action of the eccentrics the link 30 receives the co-acting influences of the gears indirectly in the zone of its connections with the posts 3| and performs as an equalizing link, since it balances and evenly divides the pressure imparted by the eccentrics to the ram-operating posts 3 I. Also, due to the purely vertical motion of the equalizing link, the posts 3| receive no lateral stress and will therefore impose no strain or undue wear on their bearings. Further, the arrangement of the dual operating units in conjunction with the link makes for a very compact drive which occupies a fraction of the space employed for the same purpose in conventional presses.

The arrangement is also favorable to the functions of installation or repair. The mechanism may be built into the box-like housing 20 as a unit and is thus ready to be installed within the walls of the press by the simple application of the latter to the sides of the housing. Conversely, if a repair or overhaul is required, the external units may be disconnected and the side walls 20b sprung apart to permit the joints thereof with the housing 20 to become freed and the housing to be lifted out.

Occasionally it happens that a job becomes wedged in the form dies when the ram is on bottom dead center, making it very difficult to secure the release of the ram. Ordinarily this is done by prying the ram-operating gears by hand until the ram is released, but in my press the release may be procured much more easily. In the event of a deadlock of the type mentioned, it is only necessary to withdraw the angle plates 38 by backing the screws 39 as shown in Fig. 7a, which will provide a suflicient space between the housing enlargement 31c and the angle plates for the necessary clearance, as indicated by dotand-dash lines. In this connection the angle plates 38 have tapped center holes 3817 for screws 380 to bear on the ram in case the plates become jammed, and release them. It is thus possible to correct an occasional mishap of this kind in a few minutes, keeping the press out of service but momentarily.

In summing up the features of the novel press, it is apparent that its simplicity and compactness are of first importance. The sturdy and equalized construction of the ram-operating mechanism makes for uniform pressure to the ram and sufficient strength to take the heavier loads imposed on the machine. The absence of spur gears and extra shafts saves power and makes the operation of the press silent. The parts of the ram-operating mechanism which rotate or bear frictional stresses are all within the housing 20 in a constant bath of lubricant and protected from dust and contact by external objects. Parts subject to torsional and bending stresses have been eliminated in the present machine. Thus, it is noted that the pins 2% are stationary and receive no rotative impulse; also, the shearing stress on these pins is so slight as to be negligible. There is no shearing stress on the post pins 3Ib as the equalizing link 30 bears down directly upon the posts 3| by seating in the cavities or pockets 3Ia thereof. The unitary nature of the ramoperating mechanism makes it interchangeable in case an important repair is necessary by enabling the defective unit to be replaced by a new or spare one on short notice and the use of the press resumed. The open character of the mechanism when exposed makes for easy access to its parts; and the simplicity of the latter facilitates removal and replacement of any that are found defective. Finally, the disposal of the ram and the connections for its adjustment are features which save labor and keep the press in proper condition with a minimum of attention.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, it is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to various minor changes and refinements, these, however, not departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:--

1. In a forming press, a ram, ram operating mechanism comprising a drive shaft, oppositely rotating transmission gears at points along said shaft, a tie member between said gears, said gears including means for moving said tie member vertically, said tie member comprising means for equalizing the lateral thrust of said gears, and connections from said tie member to points along said ram, said press having side walls, a lubricant containing housing removably supported between said side walls, said shaft, gears, and tie members being contained in said housing, and said connections between said tie member and said ram extending through a wall of said housing and having a fluid tight joint therewith.

2. In a forming press, a ram, ram operating mechanism comprising a drive shaft, oppositely rotating transmission gears at points along said shaft, a tie member between said gears, said gears including means for moving said tie member vertically, said tie member comprising means for equalizing the lateral thrust of said gears, and connections from said tie member to points along said ram, said forming press having side walls, said side walls being formed to provide horizontal channels on their inner sides, a lubricant containing housing having horizontal ribs on the side walls thereof, said ribs being adapted to fit in said channels to removably support said housing between said side Walls, said shaft, gears and tie members being contained in said housing, l

and said connections between said tie member and said ram extending through a wall of said housing .and having a fluid tight joint therewith.

3. In a forming press including a superstructure and a ram below the same, an operating mechanism for the ram comprising a drive shaft journaled in the superstructure, cross pins fixedly carried by the latter at spaced points along the course of the shaft, gears journaled on the pins and having their hubs formed as eccentrics, pinions carried by the shaft in mesh with the gears, a tie member between the eccentrics, followers between the latter and the tie member, the eccentrics and followers being arranged to move the tie member vertically, and connections from the latter to points along the ram.

In a forming press including a housing and a ram below the same, an operating mechanism for the ram comprising a drive shaft in the housing and journaled in the sides of the same, cross pins fixed between the front and rear walls of the housing at laterally-spaced points opposite the shaft, gears journaled on the pins and having their hubs formed as eccentrics, pinions carried by the shaft in mesh with the gears, a tie member between the eccentrics, followers between the latter and the tie member, the eccentrics and followers being arranged to move the tie member vertically, and connections from the latter to points along the ram.

ARTHUR H. LONG. 

